ROCKFORD — It doesn’t matter if Sophie Brunner is playing for Aquin, one of the smallest schools in the area, or with nine other all-stars: the end-game remains the same.

“Give it to Sophie and let her go,” area coach Jeff Curry of Aquin said. “That’s a good play.”

That’s how the area team outlasted the NIC-10 82-80 Saturday night at Jefferson High School to give the area girls their fourth win in the past five tries in the Rising Stars senior all-star basketball game.

The area girls missed six free throws in a row, and nine of 13 overall in the last five minutes, to let a 10-point edge leak away. But after Auburn’s Sakayla Davenport made her fifth 3-pointer to put the NIC-10 girls ahead 80-78 with 36 seconds left, Curry turned to his Arizona State-bound star once again.

First, Brunner dribbled through the entire NIC-10 team for a coast-to-coast layup to tie it. Then she did it again from halfcourt for the game-winner with four seconds left.

Just like she had done so often in leading Aquin to back-to-back Class 1A state titles.

“It was awesome,” said Forreston’s Anna Drake, who had five points, five rebounds and two steals. “She always does it against us. Finally, it was for us.”

Konieczki scored eight points in a 10-0 run that gave the area girls a 66-58 lead with 8:27 left. But in the final seven minutes, Brunner scored the only four baskets for the area girls.

Yet, typically, she declined most of the credit.

“We won because everyone knew what to do and where to go at the right time,” Brunner said.

They also won because Davenport finally missed. Her off-balance running 3 at the buzzer didn’t fall.

The NIC-10 was supposed to be a big underdog, but Davenport, Harlem’s Serina Cortinez (15 points) and the Belvidere North duo of Kirsten Larsen (14) and Anna Martensen (11) had the NIC-10 in control for much of the game. The NIC-10 made six 3s in the first half and twice led by as much as 12.

“We weren’t getting out on their shooters,” Curry said. “The second half, we did a good job of that.”

Except it didn’t matter when Davenport was shooting.

“Oh, my gosh, she gets rid of it quickly. Very quickly,” Curry said.

“I was just going with the flow,” Davenport (26 points) said. “When my first one went in, I knew I was hot, so I just kept shooting it.

It would have been enough. If not for Brunner.

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“Sophie stepped up when it counted most,” Curry said. “I’m happy for her. I’m happy for them all.”